Our great state of NY has just past into law making air guns over 600fps firearms and subject to the same restrictions. There goes my backyard plickin.
ppkny

Part 180, Section 3 - Definition of Firearms - Express Terms Adopted March 17, 2010
Express Terms
Section 180.3 of 6 NYCRR is repealed and a new section 180.3 of 6 NYCRR adopted as follows:

Section 180.3. Definition and use of firearms, guns, and airguns.

For the purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Law and this Title:

Subdivision (a) of 6 NYCRR section 180.3 is repealed and a new subdivision (a) and (b) of 6 NYCRR section 180.3 added:

(a) The terms "firearm" or "gun" shall mean any rifle, pistol, shotgun or muzzleloading firearm which by force of gunpowder, or an airgun as defined in subdivision (b), that expels a missile or projectile capable of killing, wounding or otherwise inflicting physical damage upon fish, wildlife or other animals.

(b) The term "airgun" shall mean any implement which by the force of a spring, air or other non-ignited compressed gas expels a missile or projectile and has a rifled or smooth barrel, using ammunition no smaller than .17 caliber, producing projectile velocities of not less than 600 feet per second. For the purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Law, an implement meeting the above specifications shall be considered a firearm or gun, and may be used to take protected wildlife whenever such protected wildlife may legally be taken with a rimfire rifle.

Subdivision (b) and (c) of 6 NYCRR section 180.3 are renumbered subdivision (c) and (d), respectively.

Looks like they legalized them for hunting whatever you can hunt with a rimfire gun. I don't know enough about the regs there to see that they outlawed shooting them anyplace you can't a gun.

Jason wrote:Looks like they legalized them for hunting whatever you can hunt with a rimfire gun. I don't know enough about the regs there to see that they outlawed shooting them anyplace you can't a gun.

In NY Jason the 'Firearms' laws state you cannot discharge a 'Firearm' with in 500' of a dwelling and one local town it is within 1,000'. So he fact that now that NY is calling an Air rifle of 600FPS or higher a 'Firearm' it now makes it illegal to discharge that Air rifle with in any town limits.

Wow, that's crazy. We don't even have it that bad out here in liberal western Washington.

Who is going to come check your FPS?? Are they going to show up with a Crony every time someone shoots an air rifle?

Here is an update:
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20 ... rrels++etc.

From the Dave Henderson article:
I solicited an expert source and old friend, former Broome County Environmental Conservation Officer Ric Warner, for an expert interpretation. Rick is now a Lieutenant in charge of ECOs in covering Region 7, Zone 3, which encompasses Cortland, Chenango, and Madison Counties.
Here it is, minus the attachments outlining the regulations themselves:
"You are correct in the assumption that they (airguns of the type outlined in the regulation: minimum .17 caliber and velocities of at least 600 fps) are also regulated as firearms and guns, and as such they may not be carried loaded in a motor vehicle, (except pistols), nor discharged across a public highway, or within 500 feet from a dwelling house, farm building or farm structure actually occupied or used, school building, school playground or occupied factory or church unless permission is obtained prior."I have also copied that portion of the Environmental Conservation Law that applies to black, grey, and fox squirrels that may be taken at any time in any manner if 'they're injuring property.'
"They may be taken by any airgun, however one that is shooting faster than 600 fps would not be able to be discharged within 500 feet of someone else's dwelling etc., unless the shooter had permission.
"So all the firearm laws apply to airguns that are discharging at velocities equal to or greater than 600 fps. There are some exceptions dealing with unprotected nuisance wildlife, but grey squirrels are protected."

Bottom line... Most airguns are now considered 'firearms' in NY State. Just one more reason to stay out of or get out of this state as fast as you can..